Burner and cooking device

ABSTRACT

A cooking device is provided. The cooking device includes a cavity and a burner. The cavity provides a cooking chamber. The burner is in the cavity and heats food in the cooking chamber. The burner includes a supply part and a combustion part. The supply part supplies a gaseous fuel mixed with air. The combustion part burns the mixed gaseous fuel and has an open curve shape.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0033890 (filed on 17Apr. 2009), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a burner and a cooking device.

Cooking devices are used for heating foods using a heat source such as aburner that generates heat by burning a gaseous fuel.

Such a burner includes a plurality of flame holes for burning a gaseousfuel, and the flame holes are spaced a predetermined distance from eachother.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a burner and a cooking device that are configured touniformly heat food.

In one embodiment, a cooking device includes: a cavity providing acooking chamber; and a burner in the cavity, the burner heating food inthe cooking chamber, and the burner includes: a supply part supplying agaseous fuel mixed with air; and a combustion part that burns the mixedgaseous fuel and having an open curve shape.

In another embodiment, a burner includes: a first combustion partreceiving a gaseous fuel mixed with air and provided with one or moreflame holes; and a second combustion part that burns the mixed gaseousfuel supplied from the first combustion part and is bent at one or moretimes.

In further another embodiment, a burner includes: a supply partreceiving a gaseous fuel mixed with air; and a combustion part burningthe mixed gaseous fuel supplied from the supply part, and the combustionpart has a first end connected to the supply part, and a closed secondend.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cooking device according toan embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an oven burner and a reflectorof the cooking device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view illustrating the oven burner of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating flame holes of the oven burner ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view illustrating an oven burner according to anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cooking device 1 accordingto an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective viewillustrating an oven burner 500 and a reflector 600 of the cookingdevice 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cooking device 1 includes a cook toppart 100, an oven part 200, a drawer part 300, and a control part 400.

The cook top part 100, the oven part 200, and the drawer part 300 aredisposed at upper, middle, and lower regions of a main body 10 of thecooking device 1, respectively. The control part 400 is disposed on thetop of the main body 10 at a rear edge portion corresponding to a rearside of the cook top part 100.

In more detail, the cook top part 100 includes a plurality of cook-topburners 110. Each of the cook-top burners 110 can generate a flame byburning a gaseous fuel to directly heat a container in which food isplaced. A plurality of knobs 120 are disposed on a front end portion ofthe cook top part 100. The knobs 120 are used to close, open, or adjustvalves (not shown) for starting, stopping, or adjusting supply of agaseous fuel to the cook-top burners 110.

The oven part 200 includes a cavity 210 that provides a cooking chamber211 for cooking food. The oven burner 500 is disposed in the cavity 210to heat food in the cooking chamber 211. The reflector 600 above theoven burner 500 is also disposed in the cavity 210. Other than the ovenburner 500, an additional heat source (not shown) may be provided withinor without the cavity 210 to heat food in the cooking chamber 211.

The cooking chamber 211 can be selectively closed and opened by using adoor 220. The door 220 is a pull-down door of which the top end can berotated up and down about the lower end. A handle 221 is provided on afront upper portion of the door 220 so that a user can easily rotate thedoor 220 using the handle 221.

A container in which food is contained can be stored in the drawer part300 at a predetermined temperature. The drawer part 300 includes adrawer 310 in which a container can be placed.

A manipulation signal can be input (generated) through the control part400 for operating the cooking device 1, specifically, at least one ofthe cook top part 100, the oven part 200, and the drawer part 300. Inaddition, the control part 400 displays information about operationalconditions of the cooking device 1.

The oven burner 500 is disposed on an inner upper side of the cavity210. The oven burner 500 is used to burn a gaseous fuel to directly heatfood placed in the cooking chamber 211 by radiant heat.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view illustrating the oven burner 500. FIG. 4 is aside view illustrating flame holes 541 of the oven burner 500.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the oven burner 500 includes a supply part510 supplying a gaseous fuel mixed with air, and a combustion part 520having an end connected to the supply part 510 to burn the mixed gaseousfuel supplied from the supply part 510.

The supply part 510 provides the combustion part 520 with a gaseous fuelsupplied from a nozzle (not shown), and air supplied together with thegaseous fuel. The supply part 510 may pass through a sidewall of thecavity 210, or the nozzle may pass through the sidewall of the cavity210. The supply part 510 is aligned with the nozzle in the state wherethe supply part 510 is spaced apart from the nozzle.

The combustion part 520 is horizontally disposed within the cavity 210.The combustion part 520 includes first through fourth straight portions521, 522, 523, and 524, and first through third connection portions 531,532, and 533 that connect the first through fourth straight portions521, 522, 523, and 524 to each other.

The first through fourth straight portions 521, 522, 523, and 524 areparallel to each other.

The supply part 510 is connected to the first straight portion 521. Thesupply part 510 may extend along the first straight portion 521 or betilted from the first straight portion 521. In the present embodiment,the supply part 510 is disposed along the first straight portion 521.

The first connection portion 531 connects a first end of the firststraight portion 521 to a first end of the second straight portion 522.The second connection portion 532 connects a first end of the thirdstraight portion 523 to a second end of the second straight portion 522.The third connection portion 533 connects a second end of the thirdstraight portion 523 to the fourth straight portion 524.

Thus, the combustion part 520 is bent at a plurality of times in azigzag shape or S-shape as a whole. The fourth straight portion 524, atwhich a mixed gaseous fuel finally arrives, has a closed end.

That is, the combustion part 520 has an open curve shape that isopposite to a loop shape (closed curve shape) in the present embodiment.

Although the combustion part 520 includes the first through fourthstraight portions 521, 522, 523, and 524, and the first through thirdconnection portions 531, 532, and 533 in the present embodiment, thecombustion part 520 may include two straight portions and a singleconnection portion. Alternatively, the combustion part 520 may include asingle straight portion and a single connection portion.

The first through third connection portions 531, 532, and 533 may beround to improve the flow of a mixed gaseous fuel in the first throughthird connection portions 531, 532, and 533. Thus, the first throughthird connection portions 531, 532, and 533 may be called curveportions.

Both sides of each of the first through fourth straight portions 521,522, 523, and 524 are provided with first through forth flame holes 541,542, 543, and 544 that are spaced apart from each other.

Along the flow path of a mixed gaseous fuel, the first straight portion521 is closer to the combustion part 520 than the fourth straightportion 524. Thus, flames generated from the first through forth flameholes 541, 542, 543, and 544 may decrease from the first straightportion 521 toward the fourth straight portion 524.

Thus, the fourth flame holes 544 are greater than the third flame holes543, and the third flame holes 543 are greater than the second flameholes 542, and the second flame holes 542 are greater than the firstflame holes 541, so as to uniformly generate flames at the first throughfourth straight portions 521, 522, 523, and 524.

Alternatively, the first and second flame holes 541 and 542 may be thesame in size, and the third and fourth flame holes 543 and 544 may bethe same in size, and the third flame holes 543 may be greater than thesecond flame holes 542.

That is, according to the present embodiment, distant one of the flameholes 541 through 544 along the flow path of a mixed gaseous fuel fromthe supply part 510 may be greater than close one thereof to the supplypart 510.

Thus, even when the amount of a mixed gaseous fuel provided to thefourth straight portion 524 is less than that of the first straightportion 521, since the fourth flame holes 544 are greater than the firstflame holes 541, flames at the first through fourth flame holes 541,542, 543, and 544 are uniform.

The first through third connection portions 531, 532, and 533 arerespectively provided with first through third flame holes 545, 546, and547 to transfer flames between adjacent two of the first through fourthstraight portions 521, 522, 523, and 524. The first through third flameholes 545, 546, and 547 may be disposed on first sides of the firstthrough third connection portions 531, 532, and 533, respectively.Alternatively, the first through third flame holes 545, 546, and 547 maybe disposed on both sides of the first through third connection portions531, 532, and 533, respectively.

Each of the first through third connection portions 531, 532, and 533includes inner and outer connection portions 535 and 536. For example,the first through third flame holes 545, 546, and 547 may be provided tothe inner connection portions 535. In this case, the number of the firstthrough third flame holes 545, 546, and 547 is less than that whenproviding the first through third flame holes 545, 546, and 547 to theouter connection portions 536.

A distance between each group of the first through third flame holes545, 546, and 547 is greater than a distance between each group of thefirst through fourth flame holes 541, 542, 543, and 544 to preventinterference between flames generated from the first through third flameholes 545, 546, and 547.

According to the present embodiment, the single combustion part 520 isbent at one or more times, flame areas are increased. Particularly,since the combustion part 520 is bent in a zigzag shape, food can beuniformly heated.

Flames are uniformly generated at the first through fourth straightportions 521, 522, 523, and 524 by varying the sizes of the firstthrough fourth flame holes 541, 542, 543, and 544 according to thedistance from the supply part 510.

Although the combustion part 520 includes the first through fourthstraight portions 521, 522, 523, and 524, and the first through thirdconnection portions 531, 532, and 533 in the present embodiment, thecombustion part 520 may be round as a whole.

Referring to FIG. 4, the oven burner 500 includes a lower case 501 andan upper case 502, and the first flame holes 541 are exemplified.Hereinafter, the reference numerals of the second through fourth flameholes 542, 543, and 544 will be omitted.

For example, the lower case 501 may be coupled to the upper case 502through a screw. Alternatively, the lower case 501 may be coupled to theupper case 502 through a rivet. However, the coupling of the lower case501 and the upper case 502 is not limited thereto.

At least one of the lower case 501 and the upper case 502 is providedwith a plurality of flame hole forming regions 505 for forming the flameholes 541. In the present embodiment, the lower case 501 is providedwith the flame hole forming regions 505.

The flame hole forming regions 505 are formed by partially processingthe lower case 501. Adjacent two of the flame hole forming regions 505are connected through a connection region 504.

When the lower case 501 is coupled to the upper case 502, a gap 508 fortransferring a flame is disposed between at least adjacent two of theflame holes. That is, the lower case 501 is spaced apart from the uppercase 502 except for a region where the upper case 502 is coupled to thelower case 501. To space the lower case 501 apart from the upper case502, a gap forming region 503 may be provided to the upper case 502.When the upper case 502 is provided with the flame hole forming regions505, the gap forming region 503 may be provided to the lower case 501.

That is, when the lower case 501 is coupled to the upper case 502, theconnection region 504 is spaced apart from the gap forming region 503that faces the connection region 504.

The vertical distance of the gap 508 is less than those of the flameholes 541.

According to the present embodiment, the gap 508 efficiently transfers aflame between at least adjacent two of the flame holes.

Particularly, even when the oven burner 500 is in a low operation mode(where flames are weak), flames can be efficiently transferred betweenthe flame holes.

Since a flame is efficiently transferred between the flame holes, flameintensities (flame hole load) of the flame holes are substantiallyuniform, so as to uniformly heat food.

The reflector 600 may be disposed between a ceiling 212 of the cavity210 and the oven burner 500.

When a gaseous fuel is burned at the oven burner 500, the reflector 600reflects flames and heat downwardly toward food placed in the cookingchamber 211. In addition, combustion gas generated while burning agaseous fluid at the oven burner 500 is introduced upwardly between theceiling 212 of the cooking chamber 211 and the top of the reflector 600by the reflector 600.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reflector 600 includes areflection part 610, exhaust parts 620, cover parts 640, and fixingflanges 630. The reflection part 610 includes first connection surfaces611, oblique surfaces 613, and second connection surfaces 615.

Each of the first connection surfaces 611 has a predetermined lateralwidth and is located directly above the combustion part 520. The numberof the first connection surfaces 611 is determined according to thenumber of the straight portions. The oblique surfaces 613 are slopedupwardly from ends of the first connection surfaces 611 at apredetermined angle. The second connection surface 615 is disposedbetween neighboring two of the oblique surfaces 613 to connect ends ofthe oblique surfaces 613. When a gaseous fuel is burned at the ovenburner 500, combustion gas is collected in a space formed by the secondconnection surface 615 and two oblique surfaces 613 connected to thesecond connection surface 615.

The fixing flanges 630 are disposed on corners of the top surface of thereflection part 610. The fixing flanges 630 are used to fix thereflection part 610 to the ceiling 212 of the cooking chamber 211. Thefixing flanges 630 may be formed at the corners of the reflection part610 by partially cutting and upwardly bending the first connectionsurfaces 611 and the oblique surfaces 613.

When a gaseous fuel is burned at the oven burner 500, combustion gas iscollected between the oven burner 500 and the reflection part 610, thatis, in spaces formed by the second connection surfaces 615 and theoblique surfaces 613 connected to the second connection surfaces 615.Then, the combustion gas is discharged to a space between the ceiling212 of the cooking chamber 211 and the reflection part 610 through theexhaust parts 620. For this end, the exhaust parts 620 are formed intoan elongated shape by partially cutting out the second connectionsurfaces 615 in a front-to-back direction.

Furthermore, owing to the cover parts 640, combustion gas generated bycombustion of gas at the oven burner 500 can be uniformly distributedthrough the space between the top surface of the reflector 600 and theceiling 212 of the cooking chamber 211.

For this end, the cover parts 640 have a plate shape with a sizecorresponding to the size of the exhaust parts 620. The cover parts 640are disposed directly above the exhaust parts 620. Owing to thisstructure, flames and heat generated by combustion of gas at the ovenburner 500 are not transferred through the exhaust parts 620 to thespace between the top surface of the reflector 600 and the ceiling 212of the cooking chamber 211 but are reflected by the cover parts 640downwardly toward the inside of the cooking chamber 211. In addition,combustion gas discharged through the exhaust parts 620 can be uniformlydistributed forward, backward, leftward, and/or rightward by the coverparts 640.

Fixing ribs are provided at front and rear end portions of each coverpart 640. The fixing ribs are provided to fix the cover part 640 to thereflection part 610. In the present embodiment, the fixing ribs have anapproximate L-shape and disposed at the front and rear end portions ofeach cover part 640. For example, the fixing ribs and the cover part 640may be formed in one piece. Furthermore, the cover part 640 and thereflector 600 may be formed in one piece. In this case, the exhaust part620 and the cover part 640 may be formed by forming two parallel linesin the second connection surface 615 in the length direction of thesecond connection surface 615, by cutting the second connection surface615 along the parallel lines, and by upwardly bending a portion of thesecond connection surface 615 disposed between the parallel lines.

Hereinafter, operation of the cooking device 1 will now be described.

A user can input a manipulation signal by using the control part 400 forcooking food using the oven part 200. If a manipulation signal is inputthrough the control part 400, the oven burner 500 is operated to cookfood in the cooking chamber 211.

In detail, gas and air are supplied to the oven burner 500, and flamesare generated by combustion of the gas and air. Then, food is cooked inthe cooking chamber 211 by flames and heat generated at the oven burner500. At this time, the reflector 600 reflects flames and heat generatedby combustion of gas at the oven burner 500, toward the food placed inthe cooking chamber 211.

Meanwhile, combustion gas generated as a result of combustion of gas atthe oven burner 500 is guided to the space between the ceiling 212 ofthe cooking chamber 211 and the reflector 600 through the reflector 600.In more detail, the combustion gas is collected at the space formed bythe second connection surface 615 and two oblique surfaces 613 connectedto the second connection surface 615. Then, the collected combustion gasflows upward, that is, to the space between the ceiling 212 of thecooking chamber 211 and the reflection part 610 through the exhaust part620.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view illustrating an oven burner 600 according toanother embodiment.

Hereinafter, the oven burner 600 will now be described. A description ofthe same parts as the previous embodiment will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 5, the oven burner 600 includes first and secondcombustion parts 610 and 620 that may be parallel to the bottom of thecavity 210 of FIG. 1.

Particularly, the first combustion part 610 has at least one straightportion. In the present embodiment, the first combustion part 610 has astraight shape as a whole.

The first combustion part 610 extends in a back-and-forth direction ofthe cavity 210 with the oven burner 600 installed. The oven part 200 ofFIG. 1 includes the nozzle (not shown) supplying gas to the firstcombustion part 610. For example, the nozzle may pass through thesidewall of the cavity 210, and be aligned with the first combustionpart 610 in the state of being apart from the nozzle.

The first combustion part 610 may be disposed on the line halving theceiling 212 of FIG. 1 of the cook chamber 211 of FIG. 1. The rear end ofthe first combustion part 610 is adjacent to the rear end of the ceiling212, and the front end of the first combustion part 610 is disposed inthe middle of the ceiling 212.

A passage (not shown) is disposed in the first combustion part 610 tomix a supplied gaseous fuel and air. Both sides of the first combustionpart 610 are provided with a plurality of flame holes 612.

A mixed gaseous fuel flowing in the passage of the first combustion part610 is burned at the flame holes 612.

The second combustion part 620 has an open curve shape that is partiallyopen. The second combustion part 620 may be symmetrical with respect tothe line halving the ceiling 212.

An opening of the second combustion part 620 faces the front side of thecook chamber 211.

A passage (not shown) is disposed in the second combustion part 620 tocommunicate with the passage of the first combustion part 610. That is,a mixed gaseous fuel flowing in the passage of the first combustion part610 is supplied to the passage of the second combustion part 620. Themixed gaseous fuel supplied from the first combustion part 610 isbranched to both sides of the second combustion part 620.

That is, the second combustion part 620 includes a distribution part 621receiving a mixed gaseous fuel supplied from the first combustion part610, and first and second branches 622 and 623 that are separated at thedistribution part 621. The first and second branches 622 and 623respectively have first ends that are connected to the distribution part621, and second ends that are spaced apart from each other.

The first and second branches 622 and 623 each may have at least oneround portion. The second combustion part 620 may have at least onestraight portion, as a whole.

The first and second branches 622 and 623 each includes an outer part624 and an inner part 625. A mixed gaseous fuel flows between the outerpart 624 and the inner part 625.

The outer part 624 includes a plurality of outer flame holes 626 thatare spaced apart from each other. The inner part 625 includes aplurality of inner flame holes that include a plurality of first flameholes 627 and a plurality of second flame holes 628.

The first flame holes 627 are disposed in straight portions of the innerparts 625, and the second flame holes 628 are disposed in curve portionsof the inner parts 625. A distance between the second flame holes 628 isgreater than a distance between the first flame holes 627 to preventflame interference in the curve portion of the inner part 625.

The distance between the first flame holes 627 is the same as a distancebetween the outer flame holes 626 of the outer parts 624.

According to the present embodiment, the first combustion part functionsas the supply part of the previous embodiment. In addition, the supplypart of the previous embodiment may be provided with flame holes, sothat the supply part can function as combustion part.

According to the embodiments, since the single combustion part is bentat a plurality of times, flame areas are increased. Particularly, sincethe combustion part is bent in a zigzag shape, food can be uniformlyheated.

Flames are uniformly generated at the straight portions by varying sizesof the flame holes according to the distance from the supply part.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A cooking device comprising: a cavity providing a cooking chamber;and a burner in the cavity, the burner heating food in the cookingchamber, wherein the burner includes: a supply part supplying a gaseousfuel mixed with air; and a combustion part that burns the mixed gaseousfuel and having an open curve shape.
 2. The cooking device according toclaim 1, wherein the combustion part is bent at one or more times. 3.The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the combustion part hasa first end connected to the supply part, and a closed second end, andthe mixed gaseous fuel flows in the combustion part.
 4. The cookingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the combustion part is disposedhorizontally in the cavity.
 5. The cooking device according to claim 1,wherein the combustion part comprises: a plurality of straight portionsspaced apart from each other; and one or more connection portionsconnecting the straight portions.
 6. The cooking device according toclaim 5, wherein the straight portions each is provided with a pluralityof flame holes generating flames, and the flame hole of the straightportion distant from the supply part along a flow path of the mixedgaseous fuel is greater than the flame hole of the straight portionclose to the supply part along the flow path of the mixed gaseous fuel.7. The cooking device according to claim 5, wherein the connectionportion is round.
 8. The cooking device according to claim 5, whereinthe connection portion comprises a plurality of flame holes thattransfers a flame between adjacent two of the straight portions, and adistance between the flame holes of the connection portion is greaterthan a distance between the flame holes of the straight portion.
 9. Thecooking device according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector thatis disposed between a ceiling of the cavity and the burner to reflectheat generated from the burner to the cooking chamber.
 10. The cookingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the combustion part comprises: adistribution part receiving the mixed gaseous fuel from the supply part;and a plurality of branches separated from the distribution part, andends of the branches are spaced apart from each other.
 11. The cookingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the supply part is provided withone or more flame holes.
 12. A cooking device comprising: a supply partwhere a gaseous fuel mixed with air flows; and a combustion partconnected to the supply part and bent at one or more times, the mixedgaseous fuel flowing along an inner space of the combustion part.
 13. Aburner comprising: a first combustion part receiving a gaseous fuelmixed with air and provided with one or more flame holes; and a secondcombustion part that burns the mixed gaseous fuel supplied from thefirst combustion part and is bent at one or more times.
 14. The burneraccording to claim 13, wherein the first combustion part has both sides,each of which is provided with one or more flame holes.
 15. The burneraccording to claim 13, wherein the first and second combustion partseach is provided with a plurality of flame holes, and a distance betweenthe flame holes at least in a curve portion of the second combustionpart is greater than a distance between the flame holes of the firstcombustion part.
 16. The burner according to claim 13, wherein thesecond combustion part has an open curve shape.
 17. A burner comprising:a supply part receiving a gaseous fuel mixed with air; and a combustionpart burning the mixed gaseous fuel supplied from the supply part,wherein the combustion part has a first end connected to the supplypart, and a closed second end.
 18. The burner according to claim 17,wherein the combustion part comprises: a plurality of straight portionsspaced apart from each other; and one or more connection portionsconnecting the straight portions, and the supply part is connected toone of the straight portions.
 19. The burner according to claim 17,wherein the combustion part comprises one or more straight portions andone or more curve portions, and each of the straight portion and thecurve portion is provided with a plurality of flame holes, and adistance between the flame holes of the curve portion is greater than adistance between the flame holes of the straight portion.
 20. The burneraccording to claim 17, wherein the combustion part is round as a whole.